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The State Board of Wildlife has granted approval to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to fell 122 trees in the core and eco-sensitive zones of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) for the construction of twin tunnels linking Borivali to Thane. This initiative, part of a Rs. 18,795.70 crore project, will also necessitate the drilling of 27 holes using explosives. The decision was taken in a board meeting chaired by Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and was kept confidential to evade any environmental criticism at this stage of the project.
Among the 122 trees planned to be cut, 68 have a girth of less than 60 centimetres, with the remainder exceeding 60 centimetres. Furthermore, 15 six-inch holes will be drilled in the protected area and eco-sensitive zone. To ensure minimal impact on wildlife, the Wildlife Board has proposed a joint study with the Wildlife Institute of India. MMRDA has been instructed to erect concrete walls around the blasting sites to safeguard wildlife and prevent landslides caused by drilling. MMRDA is mandated to deposit 2% of the project cost, amounting to Rs. 379.54 crore, as mitigation costs.
The twin tunnels aim to provide direct connectivity for motorists from Borivali to Manpada and Ghodbunder Road in Thane, along with access to national highways 3 and 8.
An SGNP forest officer acknowledged that the State Wildlife Board's approval is just one step, as clearance from the National Board of Wildlife and adherence to the Forest Conservation Act will also be required. There is a potential for significant harm to wildlife due to blasting in SGNP.
Environmentalists have voiced strong objections, emphasizing the delicate nature of SGNP and the adverse impact that blasting and drilling could have on the area's wildlife. They express concerns that as the project proceeds there would be a need for deeper holes for ventilation for workers.
The potential impact on vital lakes within SGNP, such as Tulsi and Vihar also hasn't been considered thoroughly. Bittu Sahgal, the editor of Sanctuary Asia, points out the significance of understanding the geological impact of tunneling and blasting on lakes like Tulsi, Vihar, and Powai, especially as sea levels are rising and the long-term effects of salinity ingress are not yet understood fully.
A senior MMRDA official, speaking anonymously, has confirmed receiving approval for the project, which underscores the potential impact on SGNP's ecological balance. Sanjay Gandhi National Park, spanning 103 square kilometres, stands as the only national park within a city, hosting nearly 40 leopards and a wide variety of animals, birds, and reptiles. An ecological survey by MMRDA has identified 18 highly protected species within the alignment of the Thane-Borivali Link Road, including mammals, reptiles, and birds under the highest protection of the Wildlife Protection Act.
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